Iron County register. [volume] (Ironton, Iron County, Mo.) 1867-1965, 1887-08-25
FUTILE ONCE MORE.
Why His Record Should BE Ohaclall,
ScrutinIxed by the Grand Army.

FUTILE ONCE MORE.
Why His Record should Be OmcIally
ScrutinIzed by the Grand Army.
General John M. futile, Command.
er of the Iowa Department of the
| Grand Army of the Republic, but a
| few weeks ago electrified the country
with an attack upon the President OF
| the United States. He accused the
COMMANDMENT Chief of the army and
navy of this Republic with woeful
lack of patriotism. He called down
wrath of the entire G. A. r. organiza-
ton upon the President and declared
that no patriot like himself could, in
self-respect, permit that order to be re-
viewed by a President whom he
charged with lack of appreciation of
the soldiers. The Republican press had
suddenly found an issue and the Presi-
dents letter declining to visit st. Louis
which was couched in charitable and
forgiving terms was the occasion of a
remarkable display of sectional hate.
In their avidity to abuse the President
and their continued charges of treason
upon him. they found a solid sentiment
among the people that did not en-
courage their shrieks of .'war'' and
epithets against what they termed
"unhung rebels" But this man
Tuttle proved to be danger
Gus piece of fireworks with which
to illumine their last display of the
''bloody shirt For a week or two
Republicans devoted display heads
and double leads to Tuttle He was
a bigger man than Grant. He was the
idol of their heart and the boast of
their patriotism. But, alas, futile had
been heard of before. He had record.
Gradually as this record began to APP
pear in the independent newspapers,
the Republican papers put his name in
smaller type. They came down from
black four line plea to nonpareil, and
at last the tail of their comet was
feebly seen in pearl and brilliant until
the proof against him became so over
whelming that for the past two weeks
they have boycotted his name entirely.
This is ungrateful, unkind, detestable.
1t has been a long time since they have
struck such ''find'' as Tuttle. His
splendor, though meteoric, was dash
ing and intrepid. He led a charge of
frothing fire against the Administra-
ton. He made things red hot. He
stirred up the camp followers and
opened the eyes of the bummers who
exist by preying upon the Treasury as
pension claim agents. But the
Republicans have been chilled in
their appreciation of .Tuttle. They
may banker after him as much
as they did, but they conceal
it if they do. Why do they not rush to
his defense and demand an investiga-
ton? Three serious charges have been
made against him. His successor in
the post of Commander of the Depart
ment of Natchez has accused him of
the theft of a landau, and plainly
and proved that he was guilty
of an immoral partnership with a |
treasury agent for purposes of unlaw-
ful speculation in cotton. His accuser
is an equally distinguished ex-officer
and member of the Grand Army of |
the Republic. The latest chapter in |
Tuttle's record is transcript from
The records of the circuit court in Mad
son, Ia, showing that Tuttle pleaded
,he statute of limitations in a suit |
brought against him in 1876, by firm
named Hickey & Co., who carried on
he hotel, restaurants and liquor
business in Natchez, Miss, in 1864,
when Tuttle was in command there.
He made them pay him 81, 500
or a permission to no business
n Natchez. They sough: to recover
rom him on the ground Of blackmail
n 1876. Tuttle did no: deny the
charge. but declared that tie lapse of
ime debarred any action in the case.
This is fine record for the man who
rot up such mock sentiment that
ave the Republican papers spasm of
man who is shown to be
! thief, a blackmailer, a confscator,
lpon being charged with his numerous
crimes. 1t is the duty of the G. A. R.
If Iowa, as well as each individual
member of that organization in this
to demand an investigation
nto the charges against futile, which
re confirmed by official documents on
lie at Washington. Let there be G.
\. R. court of inquiry in the case of
futile, and if possible, rid that organi-
alton from such characters t2at bring
lpon it reproach and shame. ais case
hould be brought up under .se head
f the "good of the order'' "a every
'ost in the ountry.-Abany (N. ~ |
irgus.